Joe Torres of Sayreville, N.J., a fire captain from Elizabeth, N.J., kneels as he touches the name of his sister-in-law Krystine Bordenabe during observances held on the eleventh anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2012. (Photo by Craig Ruttle-Pool/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — New York, the nation and the world paused Tuesday to remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the Sept. 11th attacks 11 years ago.

Tuesday night, the Twin Towers of light were risen from lower Manhattan. The annual “Tribute in Light” honors those who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center.

The beams will shine through Tuesday evening before fading away at dawn on Wednesday. The “Tribute in Light” uses 88 searchlights and debuted after the attacks.

Organizers said the lights, which can be seen from miles outside the city, are best viewed when it is completely dark outside.

The commemoration ceremony in New York City began with bagpipers and drummers leading the World Trade Center flag to the stage in what was seen as a largely scaled down remembrance.

Some that spoke with CBS 2’s Lou Young said the ceremony was less emotionally taxing, although some voice their opinion saying the full significance of the event was fading as the years went by.

The first of six moments of silence was held at 8:46 a.m., marking the time the first hijacked plane crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Bells tolled to mark the moments that planes hit the Twin Towers and when they fell.

Politicians still attended the ceremony, including former New York Gov. George Pataki, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Cuomo said the terror attacks changed New York and the nation forever.

“On this day, we honor the memories and the lives of those who were killed and the families who will never forget them,” Cuomo said in a statement. “We also honor the first responders who bravely put themselves in harm’s way, many of whom never returned home.”

He added that it is our duty and obligation to make sure we never forget.

Andrew Timson, 7, makes a rubbing of the name of his slain uncle Andrew Fisher during ceremonies for the eleventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

“As a new generation grows up without having witnessed the horror of September 11th, it is important to educate our children so they can understand the tragedy that unfolded on that day, the bravery and courage of our first responders, and the outpouring of goodwill in communities across New York and America as we recovered as one state and one nation,” Cuomo said.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the World Trade Center has grown and once again dominates the Manhattan skyline.

One World Trade, as it is known, is already the tallest building in New York City. Once complete, it will become the tallest building in the western hemisphere and the third tallest in the world.

Tenants already include Conde Nast and federal office buildings.

“There’s a lot of progress and it is also a time of memory of what took place but also a time to chart how much progress we’ve made in getting back the city we love,” said Janno Lieber, president of World Trade Center properties.

Despite all the progress, there is unfinished business at ground zero. There is still no museum open to the public.

“It’s the place where the story will be told and without the museum, the memorial is really incomplete,” said Alice Greenwald, director of the 9/11 Museum.

“We’re going to build a museum that is really important to the families of the 9/11 victims and to all of those that contributed photos and mementos and trying to preserve the memories of those they loved that are no longer here,” said Bloomberg.

Once completed, the museum will showcase the faces behind the names of victims, their personal mementos and relics of September 11th.

Charles Wolfe, whose wife, Katherine, died in the north tower, said without the stories the memorial is an inadequate tribute to the victims’ sacrifice.

“This memorial is not just for the families, this memorial is not just for New York or the surrounding area, this memorial is for the world,” he said.